Abstract: A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, including a plurality of lighted balls; wherein the lighted balls include a light emitting device; a ball power module and a housing. The system includes a medium having a plurality of clear plastic tubes, spirals, tracks, or spouts; wherein the lighted balls moves therethrough. The system also includes a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lighted balls to a top portion of the medium; and a loading mechanism in communication with the collection chamber and configured to load the lighted balls into the lifting mechanism. The system includes a power module configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system. The system further includes a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the lighted balls through the medium; wherein the circulation mechanism includes a pressurized air system configured to project air through the medium during operation.

Abstract: A hair roller set configured to facilitate securing hair in a curled position during hair curling comprising a plurality of hair rollers positioned in a substantially parallel relation and nested together such that each of the plurality of hair rollers is directly enclosed by no more than one other hair roller and directly encloses no more than one other hair roller, wherein the plurality of hair rollers each include a flexible cylindrical body that is substantially separated lengthwise along one side of the flexible cylindrical body, thereby forming a pair of interior faces, wherein the cylindrical body does not include any articulation devices configured to facilitate widening the flexible cylindrical body. The interior faces include mating devices configured to selectably couple the interior faces together. The hair roller set also includes a flocculent layer coupled about the flexible cylindrical body by adhesive.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for automatically managing a multi-step process in which human providers are selected for some purpose. Typical applications include the selection process associated with employment and dating services. The invention is directed to linking and coordinating the various steps of the selection process through automated sequencing, coordinating, tracking and status reporting processes. The interviewee answers questions that are printed, displayed, or spoken by an automated mechanism or questions are printed or displayed for use by a tester or interviewer. Answers can be written, spoken, or entered directly into a system by the interviewee. The invention provides a system and method for automatically scoring and ranking human providers with respect to selection criteria, making use of expert system concepts. Human shoppers are matched up and the usefulness of each match is scored on the basis of stated selection criteria of each human shopper.

Abstract: A camera for facilitating multi-positioned photography, wherein the camera includes a housing and a lens. The camera also includes a pair of control interfaces disposed on the top side and the bottom side of the housing. In addition, the camera includes a pair of flashes oppositely disposed on the front side of the housing. Furthermore, the camera may include a pair of display modules disposed on the front side and the back side of the housing. The camera includes an orientation module and a control module, configured to control an aspect of functionality of the camera according to the orientation information from the orientation module. The control module includes a self-shot module configured to automate a setting while taking a self photo.

Abstract: A trampoline exercise system that is designed to show an avatar of a user, which is jumping on a trampoline. The exercise system includes a computer module, a trampoline configured to provide a platform for a user to perform exercises thereon, and a sensor module designed to sense movements of a user performed on the trampoline. The sensor module provides information that is received by the computer module that controls the display of a users' avatar on a video monitor in response to the users' motion on the trampoline. Several types of sensor may be used to sense the movement of the user, including body mounted sensors, trampoline mounted sensors, and remote viewing sensors.

Abstract: There is a tool configured to tack a coupling device to a surface including a handle configured to permit a user to grasp the tool. The tool also includes a shaft member coupled to the handle and including a spring-loaded mechanism, configured to provide a force to tack a coupling device to a surface and to release the coupling device to the surface. In addition, the tool includes a head member coupled to the shaft member and configured to receive and hold a coupling device head in preparation for tacking. The head member includes a head body, a magnet disposed within the head body, and a socket member extending from the head body and including a curved socket bottom adjacent the magnet and a rim having a beveled cross-section; wherein the head member includes a gap between the magnet and the coupling device.

Abstract: A method and system for disabling a wireless communication device, including: capturing a signal stream from the wireless communication device by satisfying a signal control protocol using a mobile broadcast antenna; and routing signals to and from the wireless communication device according to a non-standard protocol, thereby disabling normal operation of the wireless communication device. The mobile broadcast antenna includes a signal capturing module configured to receive information relevant to satisfaction of the signal control protocol and to alter a signal of the mobile broadcast antenna. The signal capturing module detects signal strengths from other broadcast antenna and alters a broadcast strength of the mobile broadcast antenna to be higher than the detected signal strengths.

Abstract: A tricycle includes a frame and a front wheel. The tricycle includes a first rear wheel coupled to the frame. The tricycle includes a second rear wheel coupled to the frame. The tricycle includes a front suspension system and a rear suspension system functionally coupled to the frame. The tricycle includes a drive system coupled to the frame and a wheel hub fixedly coupled to the first drive shaft. The drive system includes a transmission system coupling a first drive train to a second drive train. The tricycle includes a locking device configured to lock the relative position of the wheel hub and the rear axle, wherein the locking device is selectably adjustably between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode includes the wheel hub and the rear axle locked together, and the second mode includes the wheel hub and the rear axle shaft independently rotatable.

Abstract: A rubber manhole cover, suitable for attaching to a top of a metal manhole lid, includes at least two bonded layers of rubber material of differing properties, including a bottom layer of a first rubber material, and a top layer of vulcanized rubber material, the top and bottom layers functioning as a single unit.

Abstract: A non-volatile tri-state random access memory device, including a permanent magnetic bit; a write module in functional communication with the permanent magnetic bit and configured to selectably alter the permanent magnetic bit between three magnetic states, a write module including a write coil disposed about the permanent magnetic bit and in communication with a source of electrical power; and a read module in functional communication with the permanent magnetic bit and configured to observe and communicate each of three magnetic states of the permanent magnetic bit, the read module including a read sensor coupled to a read return line.

Abstract: A method and system for disabling a wireless communication device, including: capturing a signal stream from the wireless communication device by satisfying a signal control protocol using a mobile broadcast antenna; and routing signals to and from the wireless communication device according to a non-standard protocol, thereby disabling normal operation of the wireless communication device. The mobile broadcast antenna includes a signal capturing module configured to receive information relevant to satisfaction of the signal control protocol and to alter a signal of the mobile broadcast antenna. The signal capturing module detects signal strengths from other broadcast antenna and alters a broadcast strength of the mobile broadcast antenna to be higher than the detected signal strengths.

Abstract: There is a chassis with retractable wheels, wherein the chassis includes a housing. The chassis may also include a chassis sled slidably disposed within the housing. In addition, the chassis may include a pair of lever arms, each said lever arm being disposed in the lower portion of the housing. Furthermore, the chassis includes a pair of mounting wheels, a fender configured to cover the wheels openings in a retracted position, and a web joining the fender to the wheel lever, and having a second end. The chassis with retractable wheels includes a chassis sled, wherein the chassis sled includes an isosceles trapezoid configuration. The chassis sled also includes a pair of receiving members pivotly attached to the first end of the pair of lever arms. The chassis further includes a separation panel attached to the housing configured to conceal the mechanical components of the chassis with retractable wheels.

Abstract: There is an instrument pick configured to selectably couple to a metal surface of an instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention. The instrumental pick includes a base member having an interior cavity and a magnet disposed within the interior cavity of the base member. The base member of the instrumental pick also includes a plurality of apertures configured to dispose a portion of the magnet.

Abstract: A kneepad includes connectors (32 and 34) at its lower side edges (30 and 31) below the position of articulation of the joint. The connectors are biased toward a plurality of ribs (40) integrally formed in the external side surface of the outer hard shell (22) for trapping the side seams of the pant leg against the ribs and holding the kneepad firmly in place.

Abstract: A method of assembly and manufacture of a brake rotor, comprising providing a brake rotor mold. The method also includes pouring brake rotor material into the brake rotor mold. Then the method includes rotating the brake rotor mold during hardening of the brake rotor material thereby forming a brake rotor. The method further includes removing an interior portion of the hardened brake rotor material of the brake rotor with a water jet cutting device. The water jet device shapes the brake rotor to a desired shape. The brake rotor is then heat and cryogenically treated.

Abstract: For synchronizing a master device and a slave device connected by a data transfer link, the master device measures a phase offset in a signal received from the slave device with respect to the master's clock signal. The master determines a control symbol based on the phase offset. The master encodes the control symbol in a transmit signal for the slave. The slave decodes the control symbol from the signal received from the master. The slave uses the control symbol to adjust the phase shift to compensate for the phase offset of a signal to be transmitted to the master device. When the phase compensated signal is received at the master, its phase offset is smaller than the original phase offset. This procedure can be performed iteratively until the phase offset is within a desired tolerance.